Two renowned innovators in the field of juvenile justice will outline their strategies for making positive changes in the juvenile justice system Feb. 19 and 20 at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. The free lectures, open to UF students and the general public, are part of UF Law’s juvenile justice conference, “Juvenile Justice: Passages, Prevention and Intervention.” The lectures will be held in UF Law’s Holland Hall room 285 C.

On Friday, Feb. 19, from noon to 1:30 p.m., Shay Bilchik, research professor, founder and director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University, former president of the Child Welfare League of America and a graduate of UF Law will present, “The Ebb and Flow of Juvenile Justice in America,” a discussion regarding the use of research and data to create and sustain effective responses to juvenile crime, policies and leadership efforts. Bilchik has been recognized four times by The NonProfit Times Power and Influence Top 50 for making his mark in public policy and championing child welfare issues.

On Saturday, Feb. 20, from noon to 2 p.m., Geoffrey Canada, founder and president of the Harlem Children’s Zone Project and author of Reaching Up for Manhood: Transforming the Lives of Boys in America, will present, “The Crisis Facing Youth – What Adults and Communities Can Do to Save Our Children.” Canada and the Harlem Children’s Zone Project, a unique, holistic approach to rebuilding a community, have been featured on 60 Minutes, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Nightline, and was the subject of the book, Whatever it Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America, by Paul Tough. Following the lecture, Canada’s book will be on sale and the author will be available to sign his work from 2 – 3 p.m.

Nancy Dowd, UF law professor and director of the Center on Children and Families, said anyone interested in juvenile justice should make plans to hear these widely respected leaders.

“Supporting our youth is one of the critical issues of our time,” Dowd said. “Not only must we ensure justice, more importantly, we need to keep our youth out of the juvenile justice system. These speakers offer critical ways to accomplish this task.”